Tina pushed herself out of the water sitting on the pool's edge. It was good to exercise and get wet again. Small pleasures she had missed, like her favourite books, romances and the classics. Squeezing the water out of her hair, she frowned. What was Iris doing? Why was she so intense?

Standing, Tina moved to where her towel lay and began drying off.

"Hey," Breanna called, "you okay?"

"Ah, yeah," Tina nodded, "tell me why Iris is so intense?"

"Picked up on that," Breanna grimaced, "hoped I could talk to you before it filtered through."

"What's going on?" Tina stared at Breanna.

"Jonathan gave Daisy a necklace," Breanna said quietly.

"We know," Tina nodded.

"He fitted it with a homing device," Breanna said, "he felt that Daisy had a talent for getting into trouble."

"She does," Tina nodded, "what about the homing device?"

"It's activated," Breanna said, "Daisy is alive, Tina."

Tina sucked in a deep breath, "You sure."

"Jonathan is," Breanna said, "Iris and Kyle are helping him locate the specific point of the coordinates."

Nodding, Tina forced herself to breathe, "Are we going to get her?"

"Well," Breanna sighed, "if I say no, I'm sure Jon would do it on his own, he is attached to Daisy."

"We know this," Tina stared at Breanna, "will we get her?"

"Tina," Breanna moved closer, "if there is the slightest chance that Daisy is alive, I will do everything possible to get her out."

"What if we can't get to her?" Tina fought a sob, "what if ..."

"Tina. One step at a time," Breanna's hands gripped Tina's shoulders, "we have the coordinates, then we'll have the address, and then we'll ensure that wherever she is … we get her out. Okay?"

Tina nodded, "She's… she's my sister."

"I know," Breanna nodded, "we'll bring her home. I need to get back to the tech room."

Tina could only nod as Breanna headed out of the pool area. Sinking onto the pool chair, Tina swallowed her sorrow. Calla appeared next to her, gripping her hand. Silently they held each other's hands, giving and receiving comfort.

"I'm going to help them," Calla said, "if there is anything I can find, it can only mean she can come home quicker."

"Okay," Tina nodded, wiping away the tears that wouldn't stop falling, "where is Rose?"

"She's in the infirmary with Jasmine, Jesse and Valencia."

"Let her stay there," Tina said, pulling in a breath, "sorry about the tears. We need to be strong for Daisy now."

"Tina," Calla knelt next to her, "why are you so hard on yourself? Daisy is one of all of us. You were strong for us in the Facility when Darcia was doing all those things to us. Do you think we didn't see the dark shadows under your eyes when we returned to our area? Yet you looked after each of us, even while you were hurting. Let us be there for you now. Please."

Tina swallowed hard, "You knew?"

"Of course we did," Calla sighed, "we were confused, scared, and frankly very overwhelmed, but we aren't any of those things now. What do you say?"

Tina looked at Calla's steady gaze and felt her resolve in the grip on her hand, "Okay. We do this together."

"Good," Calla reached up, hugging Tina, "now I'm going to go find our sister, and you will chat to Craig."

"Why?" Tina asked, confused.

"He just walked in the door," Calla winked, moving toward the door where Craig waited.

Tina wiped her face in the towel before turning to the intense yet attractive man coming toward her. Her pulse hummed every time he came into her space, and her heartbeat made her feel as though she ran a marathon every time she saw him. She watched as he folded himself into a nearby chair.

"You okay?" his voice rumbled in the space between them, skating over her nerves, hitching her breath in her throat.

"I will be as soon as Daisy is home," she croaked, clearing her throat; she continued, "Calla just gave me a dressing down because I'm always too strong for everyone but myself."

"She does have a way of putting words," Craig smiled gently, "Iris has the knack of defusing any measuring moment the guys have."

Tina chuckled, "She does. Although they are all part of me ..." Tina shrugged, "... each is unique."

"Like you," Craig murmured, "Jon said something that got me thinking. I wondered if you would consider ..." Craig cleared his throat, "I know you have a lot on your mind, but … I was … wondering ..."

"Craig," Tina smiled slightly, "it sounds like you're asking me out, but you don't know how to put it."

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"Well … that was going to be the start," Craig looked down at his fidgeting fingers, "would you consider it?"

"Are you talking about going somewhere with you or dating you?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of … um … getting to know each other for about the next fifty years," Craig cleared his throat again.

Tina stilled. Her heart rate increased with each breath. What exactly was he asking? Blinking rapidly, she suddenly stood, swallowed hard, and felt herself frowning as she tried to work through his words. Looking toward him, she found him watching her. The hurt in his eyes sliced her to her core. The sudden resignation that followed left her feeling cold.

"It's okay," Craig sighed as he stood, "I … understand. If you need anything, I'm here for you."

Tina opened her mouth to say something, but he was already striding across the tiled expanse to the door. Dropping her head back on her shoulders, she sighed. He hadn't even given her a chance to think it through. To understand what he was asking. Instead, he assumed she could only think it was by her facial expression that she refused him. Anger rolled through her. Of all the pigheaded, idiotic, stupid, egotistical ….

"Arggggg," she kicked the side of the towel basket in frustration.

"I hope I'm not the one to bring out your temper?" David's voice coming out of the shadows startled her.

"No," Tina muttered, "some other idiot did."

"Would that be the idiot snarling at me in the passageway a minute ago?" his assessing gaze clashed with her frustrated one.

"If you're talking about Craig, yes," she ground out, sighing; she frowned "when did you get back?"

"About fifteen minutes ago," David hugged her quickly, "the last night of the assignment went well."

"Good to know," Tina sighed.

"Want to tell me what is going on with Craig and you?" David waited, "everyone can see how the two of you look at each other. You nearly hyperventilate every time he comes in the room. Craig knows where you are at every moment of the day. It's not hard to guess that you feel more than you want to let on about each other."

"He didn't give me a chance to work through what I think he was asking," Tina felt tears of frustration prick her eyes. "It blindsided me. I'm guessing he assumed I was not interested, or I was refusing him or whatever the heck he thought I was unconsciously doing or saying."

"So, why didn't you stop him? Tell him?" David asked, absently wiping away a stray tear.

"He was at the door before I could form words," Tina sighed, "it's like he was running from me."

"Perhaps he running more from the idea of being rejected than from you," thoughtfully David frowned, "he's been through a lot. Craig finds it hard to trust anyone. Women are even more a problem with him. Give it a little time and see if the opportunity doesn't come up where you can answer him."

Tina stared at her brother. When did he become intelligent or sensitive or in touch with other people?

"What?" David asked, uncertainty flickering through his eyes.

"I'm trying to figure out where that came from," Tina frowned, "have you been watching too many talk shows? Oh, wait, was your gene pool added to?"

David chuckled, "No, I haven't watched any of the channels, and my gene pool is just the same," he sighed. "I learnt a lot about human nature before and after experimentation at Darcia's facility. It helps me lead those who need it."

"Ah-ha," Tina nodded, "okay, I'll go with that for now."

"You don't believe me," David feigned hurt feelings, "my sister doesn't believe me."

"I'm not saying I do or don't," Tina chuckled at her brother's play-acting, "the jury is out."

"Ouch," he draped an arm over her shoulders, "shall we go find the others and something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

Slipping her arm around his waist, she rested her head on his shoulders, "When are you never hungry, Dave?"

"Probably when I'm handing an opponent a beating," he kissed the top of her head, smiling at the light banter.

Craig sat at the table, staring into his steaming hot chocolate. It felt as though all his hopes and expectations had disappeared. It was sobering knowing he wasn't relationship material. Everything he had been through at his sister's hands hadn't given him a basis to trust the female of the species. Tina called to something in him. He was aware of where she was, every moment of the day, even if she wasn't in the room. Sometimes he wished he could sense her emotions like others in the group.

Jonathan had said that being with anyone was a risk. The type of risk so big it scared you to death, but it made every moment worth it. Had he rushed into it without really laying any groundwork? Frowning, Craig took a sip. Apart from the one close encounter with Tina, he didn't remember talking to her, and she didn't strike him as someone afraid of anything. He had watched as she had taken on a world she didn't know and learnt to navigate the tricky terrain. She knew her limitations but was willing to understand and learn new things. He had seen her training with Tania, Oren and Cara as often as possible. She had picked up shooting a gun so quickly it was scary. She was trying to make this alien world her home.

Craig sighed; his thoughts went to the paintings and short stories he found in her quarters. He hadn't meant to snoop, but his curiosity had won out against common sense. If Tina found out, she would probably never trust him. He had to know her better. Call it recon on someone he was trying to learn about and understand.

"What happened?" Calla asked, her usual frankness cutting through any smokescreen or excuses.

"She …" Craig sighed, "I don't think she wants to get into it with me."

"You don't think … "Calla shook her head, "did you give her time to answer? Talk? Question?"

Craig felt his face heating, "Ah no."

"You're here feeling sorry for yourself, but you don't know what she thinks," Calla huffed.

"I saw it," Craig said, "all over her face."

"You don't think you stand a chance because of her facial expression," Calla sat back, crossing her arms at her waist, "men."

"Glad everyone is here," Breanna said to those milling in the kitchen, some eating and others with mugs in their hands, "we have news that Daisy is alive and not too far from us."

A ripple ran through the assembled team.

"Does that mean we'll be retrieving her?" Scott asked.

"Yes, it does," Breanna nodded, "we have another newbie who orbed into our lab earlier. She is currently in the infirmary. No, visitors are not allowed right now."

"Why?" Trevet asked.

"She can drain human energy," Breanna said, "I don't think it's wise to startle her and lose casualties to an ability still in a learning stage."

"What about patrols?" Kelvin asked, "Darcia's fanatics are still out there?"

"Patrols will need to continue," Breanna said, helping herself to a cup of chocolate, "Craig? You willing to continue with patrols?"

Craig nodded, "Anything to keep the human population normal … and safe."

"Okay," Breanna nodded, sitting at the table, "once we have eaten, anyone interested in getting out there and normalising the world, chat with Craig. The rest of you … to the lab and making plans."

Cutlery and crockery clattered as food appeared on plates. Craig stayed in his corner, raising his head as he felt Tina enter the kitchen. Snuggled against her brother's chest, she looked relaxed, content and happy. An ache twisted in his chest. He wanted to be able to give her all that and anything else she wanted or craved. Lifting his cup, he drank his cooling hot chocolate. Was Calla right? Had he assumed too much from her expression? If he tried again … her gaze met his, caution rippling in her eyes before disappearing as quickly as it appeared. Craig understood that look, a crack in a sheltered place deep inside, had him hitching his breath suddenly. He needed to move forward carefully. He didn't want to make her bolt before she got to know him.